Gold, silver sink to 2010 lows on rocketing dollar

Gold and silver sank to their lowest since 2010 on Friday as the dollar surged against the yen and other major currencies after the Bank of Japan shocked global financial markets by expanding its massive stimulus spending.

Spot gold broke below $1,180 an ounce, a level bullion had held twice during its last two major sell-offs in June and December last year. It also briefly held the mark earlier this month until Friday's drop.

The yen plunged to a near seven-year low against the U.S. dollar on Friday, putting it on track for its worst day in 18 months, after the Bank of Japan shocked financial markets with an aggressive easing of its monetary policy.

"The main reason for gold's fall is the strength in the dollar after the BOJ's desperate efforts to weaken the yen," said Jeffrey Sica, president and chief investment officer at Sica Wealth Management, which oversees $1 billion in client assets.

"Gold could fall further in the short term as the dollar could rise more in the short term, but gold should eventually benefit as a hedge against the uncertainties and economic turmoil brought by central-bank actions," Sica said.

Spot gold slid as much as 3 percent to its lowest since July 2010 at $1,161.25 an ounce in earlier trade. It was last down 2.25 percent at $1,171.71 for its biggest one-day rout since July.

The metal breached important support levels at $1,200 and $1,180, where stop losses - automatic sale orders - were placed and was on track for a 4.8 percent drop this week, the biggest weekly decline since June 2013. U.S. gold futures settled down 2.25 percent at $1,171.6.

Spot silver earlier fell 4 percent to its lowest since February 2010 at $15.76 an ounce and was poised for a fourth straight monthly drop. It was down 1.71 percent at $16.14.

Gold and silver were already facing some heat after the U.S. Federal Reserve earlier in the week largely dismissed financial market volatility as factors that might undercut progress toward its unemployment and inflation goals.